The Ray Rice Debacle

[soxhop411]

 
 
You would have to think at some point somebody here will be in trouble over this. The security guy clearly knew exactly what was going on. Leadership, management, did what it could to conceal and push it through. I think that Ray Rice's track record helped him here, that they cared about him. They wanted to believe that it was an isolated deal but they knew. There were players who were in Las Vegas a week or two after this incident and I know one player said, "You want to see the videotape of what happened?" So there were players who could see the videotape, yet the Ravens, many of the Ravens, claim they couldn't see it.-Schefter

http://deadspin.com/adam-schefter-nfl-players-had-access-to-rice-video-wee-1637673670?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitter&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow

 

[mwonow]

http://mtc.cdn.vine.co/r/videos/46257146161125483380944048128_2e9c6ab554f.5.1.5322294077768982747.mp4?versionId=A9Xqdm8LozjqpZWNw20d.3S5EwEDaRH3
 
"It's some things you can cover up, and some things you can't." - ESPN NFL analyst Ray Lewis.

 
Finally, ESPN has a real live expert commenting on his core area of knowledge!

 

[fairlee76]

 
Finally, ESPN has a real live expert commenting on his core area of knowledge!

Holy shit.  This is amazing.  Ray Lewis commenting on this case makes me think that his Lord has one hell of a sense of humor.

 

[soxhop411]

Aditi Kinkhabwala ‏@AKinkhabwala  29s
 
#Ravens announce that owner Steve Bisciotti will meet w/ the media at 4pm today.
 
this will be worth a watch

 

[riboflav]

 
Aditi Kinkhabwala ‏@AKinkhabwala  29s
 
#Ravens announce that owner Steve Bisciotti will meet w/ the media at 4pm today.
 
this will be worth a watch
 

 
It's like NFL Christmas every weekday now. Can't wait!

 

[soxhop411]

Albert Breer ‏@AlbertBreer  1m
 
As the NFL did Friday, Ravens call their presser the day of, which is a way of limiting the amount of media that can get there.
https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer/status/514116931599597568

 

[johnmd20]

 
Albert Breer ‏@AlbertBreer  1m
 
As the NFL did Friday, Ravens call their presser the day of, which is a way of limiting the amount of media that can get there.
https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer/status/514116931599597568
 

 
Like the news wouldn't travel b/c they schedule it at the last minute. This is such a 1994 way of looking at things.

 

[dcmissle]

Ozzie had a 2000 way of looking at things, and it but him in the ass.

The NFL has a 1936 way of looking at things.

 

[mascho]

 
Like the news wouldn't travel b/c they schedule it at the last minute. This is such a 1994 way of looking at things.

 
Don't you know that Peter King lives in Manhattan? Not sure that the Acela is getting him to Baltimore in time.

 

[Silverdude2167]

 
Don't you know that Peter King lives in Manhattan? Not sure that the Acela is getting him to Baltimore in time.

Don't worry he has been training for just this moment, he will run there.

 

[riboflav]

 
Like the news wouldn't travel b/c they schedule it at the last minute. This is such a 1994 way of looking at things.

 
Right, but perhaps those actually ask tough questions - i.e. Rachel Nichols - won't be able to attend because of the last-minute notice. Unless the owner will take questions via Facebook.

 

[Ed Hillel]

I'm expecting lots of broad, tacit denials utilizing precise language to remain untruthful while avoid outright lies, followed by questions that are either deflected or answered ("As Ray Rice is in the process of appealing, we cannot get into details...") in the same broad strokes as the original statement. Should be good.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Is he just answering questions?

 

[Ed Hillel]

Showed up smilng, good way to set the tone.

 

[riboflav]

Defiant

 

[Ed Hillel]

These questions are terrible, not one person has challenged him or the organization.

 

[ScubaSteveAvery]

So basically Ray Rice and his people are behind all of this? Solid defense...

 

[riboflav]

No female reporters?

 

[DJnVa]

Calling this in Baltimore, on the day of, means not too many folks except those that want continued access to the team would be there...

 

[riboflav]

"Nobody is losing a job here."

 

[Ed Hillel]

Clearly doesn't get it. Nobody cares about it being hush money, more about you wanting him to mentor young players. Tone deaf rich guy speak.

 

[DJnVa]

Again I wonder who thought this would be a good idea?

 

[Ed Hillel]

"Better late than never."
 
Ha!

 

[DJnVa]

Twitter is buying.
 

1. 
   
   
   Andrew Brandt ‏@adbrandt now
   Puzzled by some remarks, but noting much more candor, less guarded comments than Goodell. #Bisciotti
   
    
    
    
   
   
   
    Albert Breer ‏@AlbertBreer now
   
   
   
    
   
   
   
   
2. 
   
   
   Steve Bisciotti being transparent, showing raw emotion. I think this is what people wanted from Goodell.
   
   
   

 

[riboflav]

Statement released just seconds before PC started.

 

[mascho]

So basically Ray Rice and his people are behind all of this? Solid defense...

 
@jasonWSJ  2m
If I am following Ravens response correctly it is: We believed Ray Rice then but you shouldn't believe Ray Rice now.

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

Here is the response to the article that the Ravens released earlier today: http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Message-To-Fans-Regarding-ESPN-Story/b2ed215d-3999-4715-b947-21b460930bc7.

Of note, the text from Biscotti was one in a series of texts, which makes more sense in context:
 

Monday September 8, 7:44 pm

Ray: I understand the decision but I am thankful for what you have done for me and my family. Me and my wife will continue to work on us and being better but I just wanted to say thank you for giving me a chance

Steve: I'm sorry we had to do this. I still love you and believe that you will be a great husband and father If you ever need to talk just call

Tuesday September 9, 10:27 pm

Steve: I just spent two hours talking to Ozzie. It was all about you. We love you and we will always figure out a way to keep you in our lives. When you are done with football I will hire you to help me raise Great young men. I still love you!!!

Ray: I know it's a rough time for all of us I love all of you and that will never change for life!

Steve: I will help you make it a great life indeed. I give you my WORD

Ray: That means the world to me and my family we greatly appreciate you and thank you.

 

[Ed Hillel]

The problem again is that he's saying the video changed things, while at the same time now admitting that they knew exactly what the video contained.

 

[riboflav]

If tape had come out earlier Ray could have been suspended 8 games and maybe Ravens would not have had to cut him. Paraphrase

 

[Ed Hillel]

Ohh, he threw the NFL under the bus!

 

[Buster Olney the Lonely]

Did Bisciotti spend five minutes preparing for this? 

 

[riboflav]

Did Bisciotti spend five minutes preparing for this? 

 
I'm guessing this will not play out as well if you read his comments but those viewing it, seem to love his presentation.

 

[Ed Hillel]

This Ray Rice redemption thing is uncomfortable.

 

[riboflav]

Harbaugh claims he never requested cutting Rice.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Did anyone at all understand his answer to the money question about why it took him seeing the video to take action? Did he say "equal missteps/promises for probation?" Huh?

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

Interesting that Kevin Van Valkenburg, co-author of the OTL piece and who used to write for the B'more Sun, is not attending the press conference. He explains on Twitter: "The reason? There is nothing so silly as media trying to interview other media. If you have questions, pose them to the owner & management."

https://twitter.com/KVanValkenburg

 

[Harry Hooper]

Very strange demeanor coming off this guy.

 

[Harry Hooper]

He just said something like there was good reason to doubt the veracity of Ray Rice's account, but it was accepted as gospel since it was the only account they had.

 

[Ed Hillel]

He just said something like there was good reason to doubt the veracity of Ray Rice's account, but it was accepted as gospel since it was the only account they had.

 
Despite the fact that it wasn't the only account they had, yes.

 

[Buster Olney the Lonely]

The media received the responses minutes before the presser. What a sham.

 

[Harry Hooper]

Keep smiling, jackass.

 

[riboflav]

If we're just going to keep lobbing softballs, can we end this now?

 

[glennhoffmania]

What the fuck is he talking about now?  Is he sober?
 
And his teeth are blinding me.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Dude has a strange life perspective.

 

[riboflav]

Takeaway: Assume everyone is out to get you, but Ravens' players.

 

[Morning Woodhead]

Some of his anecdotes are just dumb.  What the hell is he talking about.

 

[glennhoffmania]

So Rice's lawyers are lying but the Ravens are only telling the truth.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Is the kid who does their Twitter asking these questions?

 

[Morning Woodhead]

I want somebody to ask him if he's willing to revisit Terrell Suggs standing on the team with his new view on domestic violence.  

 

[riboflav]

Is the kid who does their Twitter asking these questions?

 
You mean the one who self-identified as a Ravens stakeholder prior to asking his question?